Today’s announcement that Warner Bros are delaying the release of Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom to March 2023 wasn’t exactly the news fans of Jason Momoa’s Justice League hero wanted to hear today. Along with other movies such as The Flash, Black Adam and Wonka, the Aquaman sequel received a hefty shove down the upcoming release slate as the studio followed Disney in hitting a reset button on their whole schedule in the wake of the Covid pandemic delays. With many of the movies being heavily reliant on special effects, it seems that not everyone is disappointed by the movie’s delay.

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Director James Wan responded to the Warner Bros. announcement on his Instagram, and it is clear that he doesn’t quite share the disappointment of DC fans everywhere. Sharing an image of his multiple-screen work desk, Wan explained that having three extra months to complete work on the movie is something that he was thankful for. He wrote:

“AQUAMAN and the LOST KINGDOM will be released March 17, 2023.

Working nonstop, day and night (at least 15 hours each day), on my director’s cut from my home set up. Thank god for the big desk!

For a movie that is nearly all visual effects, I’m thankful for the extra time needed to craft this thing right. Working with groundbreaking new technology, I’m blown away by some of the early tests coming in. I’m cautiously optimistic and excited, and can’t wait to share when the time is ready.”

Warner Bros. Delays Impacted All But One Movie in Their Upcoming DC Slate

     Warner Bros. Pictures

Dwayne Johnson kicked off the delay announcements when he revealed that Black Adam and DC’s League of Super-Pets were both being moved to later this year. The news was soon followed by additional delays to The Flash, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom and Wonka, but one movie that managed to make a leap forward in the schedule is Shazam! Fury of the Gods.

Among the many upcoming DC movies, the Shazam! sequel is one that seemed to have the longest period between the end of filming and its original release date of Summer 2023. Now fans, and director David F. Sandberg, are happy to see the film moving to a December 2022 release, with the filmmaker taking to his Twitter account to discuss the development. Across a series of posts, Sandberg wrote:

There is little doubt that the Covid pandemic took a toll on filmmaking more than anyone ever anticipated, and while there are a lot of movies being delayed, it is all with good reason. Having lost so many months, it is clear from James Wan’s reaction that in most cases the new delays just mean that they have some much needed additional time to complete work on the final movies without having to rush through post-production.

“That’s right, Shazam 2 is getting released 6 months earlier and now comes this December! Going up against Avatar 2. Poor James Cameron must be shaking in his boots right now…. It’s funny how Shazam 1 was a Christmas movie released in April and Shazam 2 is a summer movie getting released at Christmas. It’s the Shazam way.”